Physical Therpy For Injuries and Pain in Spring Lake, NJ

Break out the foul weather ponchos; it could be a weekend for the ducks with damp air, rain showers and shifting breezes in the forecast. In other words, it's early spring and the weather is quite cantankerous.

Trout season opens Saturday and the Shark River Surf Anglers traditional kids trout contest is still a go, rain or shine. Just make sure to dress the kids warm and keep some hot chocolate in the Thermos. There are tons of trout in the lake though, between the several hundred the club stocked last weekend with the help of dozens of kids and the 460 trout added by Fish & Wildlife during the two weeks leading up to Opening Day. That should help keep kids and parents plenty busy.

There is no registration fee as the club puts on the event free for the kids. The club does request that trout anglers not in the contest let the kids have the lake for the morning of the contest, which begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. While the contest has lots of prizes to give away, there can only be one grand prize to the youth angler who catches the heaviest trout. This year, as in years' past, the grand prize is a rod and reel combo, a mount of the winning fish and a trophy.

Elsewhere around the state, Fish & Wildlife deposited 180,000 rainbow trout and larger broodstock in the many trout streams and lakes ahead of opening day. The rainbows average 10 ½ inches and a half-pound in weight. The broodstock, or retired hatchery breeder fish, are between 14 and 26 inches. Some weigh as much as 7 pounds.

Fish & Wildlife will keep stocking trout after the opener until 570,000 trout are added during spring. As far as the regs go, from April 5 to May 31, trout fishermen make keep six fish at nine inches in length per day. The daily limit will be reduced to four trout beginning June 1 and continuing through winter 2026.

Spring bass run

The bass were biting at Union Beach and at the mouth of the Raritan River on the high tide Thursday afternoon, said Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Shop in Hazlet said. Sciortino said while they're still waiting for the fishery to ignite in Raritan Bay proper, anglers have being doing alright in the back bay areas. The fish have been mainly interested in bloodworms and plastic swim shads.

Steve Meserve at Lewis Fishery in Lambertville reported his first catch of shad on the Delaware River on Wednesday night. He said they ran 100 yards of net out, and it returned with three shad and one sucker fish. He said the river temp was 48 degrees.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him at dradel@gannettnj.com.

As spring rolls in, it’s only a matter of time before the Garden State starts living up to its name. This time of year, New Jerseyans are surrounded by lush greenery and bright flowers, of which cherry blossom trees are some of the most iconic. There’s a common misconception that Washington D.C. and Eastern Asia are home to the best cherry blossoms, but New Jersey is hoarding a whole bunch of blooms in parks, arboretums, and trails across the state that you need to check out.

When do Cherry Blossoms Bloom in NJ?

Depending on location, cherry blossoms can bloom at different times each year. In this area, cherry blossoms typically bloom between the second and third weeks of April. However, with warm temperatures coming early, blossoms could bloom as early as the first week of April. Time to keep an eye out! While the blooms are at their brightest for only a few days, the season itself lasts a few weeks. Expect to see cherry blossoms for most of April (maybe even late March *gasp*).

When Can You See Cherry Blossoms in NJ?

This quick turnaround from barren to budding makes cherry blossoms seem to appear out of nowhere, emerging from the landscape with their lively array of pinks. Since this window is a tight one, make sure to plan your cherry blossom trip to one of these 12 New Jersey locations to make the most of their short season.

1. Branch Brook Park – Newark, NJ

Branch Brook Park is the ultimate destination for cherry blossom season in New Jersey. With over 4,000 cherry blossom trees on this Essex County plot, Branch Brook Park outranks every other cherry blossom collection in the world. To celebrate the variety of their blooms, Branch Brook Park will be hosting their annual New Jersey Cherry Blossom Festival. It kicks off on April 2 and will run through April 10, 2022.

2. Chapel Ave – Cherry Hill, NJ

Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill is home to two miles worth of cherry blossoms. Lining the avenue on either side, the blooms spur community events when they come into full force each spring. During the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, Cherry Hill hosted their Cherry Blossom Parade on Chapel Ave. These days American flags fly high, accompanying each tree during the town’s annual 9-11 Remembrance and Patriotic Gratitude celebration.

3. New Jersey Botanical Gardens – Ringwood, NJ

Full of history and charm, the New Jersey Botanical Gardens offer a gorgeous variety of outdoor spaces. The gardens are part of the larger Ringwood State Park, and the grounds include an expansive pine tree collection, many walkways, and 10 different gardens each displaying a particular flower or tree. The perennial garden changes with each season, which is where the cherry blossoms bloom for their short cycle every spring.

4. Verona Park – Verona, NJ

This slice of nature on the edge of Verona is the perfect combination of park, trails, and scenic views. The area is great for families and offers the ability to go as far in or out of nature as you like. The views in Verona Park take on a pink hue in the spring when cherry blossoms seem to spontaneously emerge from the rest of the foliage.

5. Hurd Park – Dover, NJ

This expansive park is studded with foliage, a veterans memorial and, of course, lots of cherry blossom trees in the springtime. It really might be one of New Jersey’s most peaceful places. Footbridges, gazebos and walking paths are dispersed throughout Hurd Park, so put your walking shoes on and experience nature’s beauty at its finest.

6. Warinanco Park – Linden, NJ

With an indoor sports pavilion, trails, and gardens galore, Warinanco Park is full of opportunities for activity. On either side of the lake, blush pink cherry blossoms bloom each spring, adding color and vibrancy across this 205-acre plot.

7. David C. Shaw Arboretum – Holmdel, NJ

Tucked away inside the massive Holmdel Park, the David C. Shaw Arboretum displays a variety of trees to the public. The aim of the arboretum is to show off the foliage that naturally thrives in New Jersey. Within this range, cherry blossoms play a pivotal role and change the tone of the arboretum each spring, bringing brightness into the woods.

8. Divine Park – Spring Lake, NJ

The footbridges in Spring Lake are absolutely iconic. They give the town character, and the residents love them. They’re made even better each spring when the cherry blossoms at the end of the footbridges, and across the area, bloom. This is without a doubt, one of New Jersey’s most serene locations.

9. Rahway River Park – Rahway, NJ

Getting its name from the nearby river, Rahway River Park is a fresh open space in the middle of Union County. With ball fields, tracks, and footpaths, the only thing that could make this New Jersey park pop, even more, is cherry blossoms. Sprinkled throughout the park, the cherry blossoms will bring spring air into an urban setting.

10. Frelinghuysen Arboretum – Morris Township, NJ

This North Jersey jaunt is a display of woody variety. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is a popular location for local families to take photos and explore fauna. Peppered through the grounds are large cherry blossoms, perfect for spring photo ops.

11. Reeves-Reed Arboretum – Summit, NJ

This unassuming arboretum might seem like any other, but as the seasons change, Reeves-Reed Arboretum comes to life. In this quiet corner of Summit, New Jersey the daffodil bowl, rose garden, and perennial blooms bring a burst of color as the season goes on. Though they don’t have a ton of cherry blossoms, the fauna they do have is stunning.

12. Sayen Gardens – Hamilton, NJ

This picturesque garden looks straight out of a fairytale. The simple gazebo, the bridge with white crisscrossed railings, and the tiny pond will make you feel like Alice in Wonderland at Sayen Gardens. Dotted among the foliage, you’ll find some vibrant pinks and blush tones that mark the cherry blossom blooms.

Where do you go to see the cherry blossoms bloom in New Jersey? Let us know your favorite cherry blossom festivals in the comments below.

Main image by Neil Daftary

Jordan Hutchinson is a second semester senior at George Washington University with aspirations in writing, editing, and publishing. A Jersey girl at heart, she grew up in Morris County and moved down to Atlantic County this past fall.

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Seven-minute read

SPRING LAKE -- Growing up in Galway on Ireland’s west coast and marrying in 1987, Moya and Aidan Rush loved Irish culture and were proud of their heritage.

And just over a decade ago, they channeled their passion for Ireland into their purchase of the Irish Centre, a renowned Spring Lake-based shop that’s been providing Celtic clothing, jewelry, gifts and “all things Irish” for nearly half a century.

“In the late 1980s there was a recession in Ireland, and Aidan and I decided to come to the U.S. for six months as an ‘adventure,’” recalled Moya, a Wall resident, of their relocation to the Jersey Shore area — a visit which turned into so much more.

“Aidan had friends and family here who offered him a job and I worked in New York City for the first few years, but in 1995 I started working at the Irish Centre, which my cousin Mary Reilly and her husband Jim had opened in 1978,” she said. “I became a store manager and a buyer, and when Mary decided to retire, Aidan and I bought the store from her in 2014.”

Still in its original location on Third Avenue, Rush said that Spring Lake’s historically large Irish population and renowned designation as the area’s “Irish Riviera” have contributed to the now 47-year-old store’s longevity and strong following.

“There are many generations of Irish families throughout Spring Lake, and they hold dear to their heritage,” Rush said. “So many people who have had their ancestry analyzed come to the store excited to share that they’re some percentage Irish.”

Tweeds, claddagh rings and more

Within their quaint 1,500-square-foot shop, which is open seven days a week, “we offer everything from Aran knitwear, tweeds, coats and men’s hats to traditional foods imported straight from Ireland, including blood puddings, breakfast bacon and sausage, fresh homemade brown bread, soups, jams, salty snacks and Irish-made Cadbury chocolate,” Rush said.

“We carry beautiful baby gifts and sweaters, Waterford crystal, Simon Pearce glass, Guinness merchandise and a broad range of jewelry featuring such key Irish themes as the trinity knot, Celtic cross, claddagh symbol (which represents friendship, love, and loyalty), and lucky shamrock," she continued. "We also carry religious items such as saint medals, pins and Celtic crosses in metal and even in mahogany as well as a large selection of cards, books and CDs.”

With over 9,000 products from more than 50 different vendors in the store, Rush said that there’s something for everyone and every budget at the Irish Centre.

“You can purchase a Celtic cross or pin for a jacket for as little as $6 or a silver claddagh ring for $75, all the way up to a claddagh ring with precious gems like diamonds, emeralds or sapphires for $5,000,” she said. “We offer items for all stages of life, from baby and confirmation gifts to engagement gifts, wedding bands and more.”

Ultimately, “we see ourselves as ambassadors of Ireland,” Rush said. “We love to promote Irish culture, music and food and we encourage people to visit Ireland and especially to explore the countryside and fun places off the beaten path. It’s great to get lost in Ireland and we encourage people to take a trip there and soak in the culture.”

Based on the Rushes’ commitment to authenticity, “over 85% of the merchandise we sell is from Ireland and we’re proud to source our T-shirts, wooden signs, art, wool clothing and more from some of the country’s best small crafters and artisans, including one of our most beloved vendors, a skilled 87-year-old knitter from Donegal,” she said. “I travel to Ireland several times a year to attend trade shows, participate in ‘meet the maker’ tours, and visit knitwear mills to stay on the forefront of what’s happening.”

That continued attention to new products and local vendors has long resonated with the Irish Centre’s clientele.

“We have a lot of repeat customers and feel lucky to have such a loyal clientele that we’ve built relationships with over the generations,” Rush said. “Spring Lake is a little mecca at the Jersey Shore and our store warms our customers’ hearts and brings them back to when they were growing up.”

Among trends, Rush said that the stiff and uncomfortable Irish knitwear of the past has gone by the wayside.

“There are no more itchy sweaters,” she confirmed. “These days, more and more products are made of merino wool that’s soft and light, and the basic Irish crewneck sweater has now become more chic with side zippers and different types of collars in a wide variety of colors.”

What hasn’t changed is the pride and quality with which products carried at the Irish Centre are made.

“Irish tweeds can last forever, and our manufacturers are committed to outstanding quality and workmanship,” Rush said.

Among challenges, Rush said that shipping costs have become challenging for the store, especially since so much of their inventory is imported.

“Most of our products are air-freighted in from Ireland and shipping costs have quadrupled since the pandemic, which has been difficult to manage,” she said.

“In addition, while it was easy to get merchandise during the pandemic when there was no tourism, tourism in Ireland has since exploded and it’s been hard for Irish suppliers to keep up with both their own domestic demand and demand from U.S. buyers like our store,” Rush said. “For that reason, we have to stock up early for the spike in business that we experience around Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. There are 32 St. Patrick’s Day parades in New Jersey, so we try to buy as much merchandise as soon as we can for those events.”

Keeping the Irish heritage alive

Supported by their dedicated staff of four part-time associates, most of whom hail from Ireland, “I do all of the buying, ordering and pricing, while Aidan takes care of all of our back-office activities, store supplies and online presence,” Rush said. “Most of our customers live within 30 minutes of our store, but we ship to customers all over the U.S. through our e-commerce site.”

Looking ahead, the Rushes are excited to continue promoting all that makes the Emerald Isle so special.

“We run a Belleek-signing event at the store every November and host Christmastime appearances by jewelers who create new jewelry with Swarovski crystals for us each year,” Rush said. “We also co-chair Spring Lake’s Irish Festival every June and are excited to give back to the community and support the many great Irish organizations in the area.”

Among her favorite parts of running the Irish Centre, “we love our wonderful customers and the relationships we’ve built with them over the years, and it’s also exciting when children and teens come into the store to get their first claddagh ring, sweater or hat,” Rush said. “We love to see the generations continuing to keep their ancestry alive; they’re the future and we want them to embrace their heritage, appreciate where their ancestors came from, and fall in love with Ireland.”

As for the experience at the Irish Centre, where lively Celtic music is always on tap, “Ireland is a warm, welcoming culture and that’s the feel in this store,” Rush said. “We love celebrating all things Irish at the Jersey Shore.”

Irish Centre

Location: 1120 Third Avenue, Spring Lake

Phone: 732-449-6650

Owners: Moya and Aidan Rush

Opened: 1978

Website: irishcentre.net